Police detained about 190 Africans trying to reach Spain on small launches on Sunday, bringing the number of migrants intercepted off Spain since Friday to more than 400, government and police officials said. Five boats were intercepted on Sunday as they tried to cross the Strait of Gibraltar to the south coast of Spain -- two off the popular Costa del Sol tourist region. In the previous two days police had intercepted eight boats carrying about 280 people between them. One capsized and 33 passengers drowned or disappeared. Every year thousands of people risk their lives trying to reach Spain, seen as an easy way into Europe as its southernmost tip is less than 20 km (12 miles) from Morocco. Many of the boats are not seaworthy and sink. At least 4,000 people have died trying to reach Spain since 1997, according to immigrant group ATIME. --SP 2224 Local Time 1924 GMT
